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Our Roots

The Order of the Most Holy Redeemer was founded on the Day of Pentecost, 13th May, 1731, at Scala in the Kingdom of Naples, under the influence of the Venerable Mother Maria-Celeste Crostarosa who drew up the Rules and to whom can rightly be given the title of foundress, and under the direction of Mongsignor Thomas Falcoia, Bishop of Castellamare, with the decisive collaboration of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Mother Maria-Celeste Crostarosa, having had to leave Scala, founded the monastery of the Most Holy Saviour in 1738 at Foggia, where the primitive Rule was observed.

Concurrently with the Order of Nuns and assisted by the monastery at Scala and by Mother Maria-Celeste Crostarosa, Saint Alphonsus had founded for men, in 1732, the Congregation of the Most Holy Saviour. In 1749, to avoid confusion with another institute bearing the same name, the Holy See directed that the name ‘Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer’ be used.

Because of the common origin and purpose which united the two Institutes, the Order of Nuns was also given the name of the Most Holy Redeemer at the time of the pontifical authorization in 1750.

Saint Alphonsus, having become a bishop, furthered the expansion of the Order by inviting the Sisters in 1766 to his Episcopal town, Saint Agatha of the Goths.

In the 19th century the Order spread initially to Vienna in Austria (1831) where with the support of the Venerable Father Passerat, CSsR, Mother Marie-Alphonse and Sister Marie-Anne-Joseph founded the first monastery beyond the Alps. This was after they had spent some time at Saint Agatha of the Goths in order to imbibe the authentic spirit of the Order. Starting with Austria the foundations multiplied: Belgium (1848), Ireland (1859). France (1875) and England (1897).

In the 20th century the Order spread to the five continents: Spain (1904), Canada (1905), Brazil (1921), Germany (1943), Argentina and Japan (1949), USA (1957), Burkina Faso (1963), Australia (1965), Venezuela and Peru (1976) the Philippines (1980), Poland (1992). The 21st century saw the Order expand to Kazakstan (2001), Slovakia (2005), Thailand (2011), Vietnam (2014), Angola (2015), and the Ukraine (2016). And we now have a Redemptoristine prayer presence in Indonesia (2017).